MIDDLETON TWP. Team to look for woman

No clues have been found in the disappearance of Tracy Hill, who has been missing since June 7. By NORMAN LEIGH VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU ROGERS -- A search team is expected to fan out this weekend in the rugged rural country surrounding the home of a Middleton Township woman missing since June 7. They'll be looking for Tracy Hill, 24, or clues to her disappearance, detective Jerry Herbert of the Columbiana County Sheriff's Department said this morning. "We just want to cover all the bases," Herbert said. So far, Hill's disappearance is being treated as a missing person case. Investigators have yet to unearth any evidence that points toward foul play. Rescue 40, a volunteer search and rescue group based in the county, will conduct the search beginning early Saturday, Herbert said. The effort will consist of scouring the area on foot. No dogs or aircraft are expected to participate. Searching trenches: Hill's home is near a brushy area peppered with strip cuts from former mining operations. She lives on Spruceville Road near state Route 7. It's possible that Hill may have gone for a walk and fallen into one of the cuts, the edges of which can crumble and give way, Herbert said. Hill was last seen at her job at Duo-Corp, on Miley Road in North Lima on June 7. She had been working there about six weeks. On June 8, a woman identifying herself as Hill called the business to report off. She hasn't been seen since. Hill has been estranged for about five months from her husband, Clifford Hill. Husband jailed: Hill was in the county jail this morning, being held on an unauthorized use charge. He was found June 18 in possession of a car belonging to Hill's mother, Linda Evans of Holmesville. Hill told investigators his wife allowed him to use the car. But Evans has insisted he wasn't allowed to drive the vehicle, prompting the criminal complaint against him for unauthorized use. Herbert said Hill has told investigators he wants out of jail so he can help search for his wife.